Car coupling



June 14, 1927. 1,632,222

J. w. EASTER CAR COUPLING Filed July 28,1926

FIGURE A INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 14', 1927.

ururso s'rarss JOHN EASTER, OF SAN JOSE, GALIFORJSTIA.

CAR COUPLING.

Application filed July as,

It is the object of. the invention to provide a coupling structure that may be either manually" manipulated or power operated, that is positive in operation, that is strong, durable, consists of few parts, and that. is economical to manufacture and highly efficient in its practical application.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of the device partly in section and parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the device on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective illustration of a portion of the device including the knuckle and parts immediately coacting therewith.

Figure 4: is a detail section of a portion of the device with theknuckle extended.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 show at 1 a coupler adapted to be mounted upon a car body, the forward end of the coupler having a chamber 2 formed therein communicating with the exterior of the coupler at its forward end by means of a slot 3.

A coupling jaw is shown at 1 having a knuckle tail 5 pivotally mounted in the coupler 1 as at 6 in such a manner as to swing through the slot 3 but lying within the chamber 2 when in an operative position. This portion 5 of the knuckle has a thickness slightly less than the width of the slot 3 to a point adjacent its inner end where it is considerably reduced in thickness to form a supporting tip 7 and a shoulder 8. The knuckle tail 5 also has an ear 9 formed thereon as shown and concentrically positioned relative to the pivot 65. In the under surface of the knuckle tail 5 and directly beneath the inner end thereof, is formed a slot 10. This slot begins at a point close to the edge of the part 5 and extends inwardly a distance at substantially right angles thereto, and then extends in the general direction of the pivotal point 6 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 1.

At 11 is shown a locking bar slida-bly mounted in a guide 12 formed in the forward wall of the chamber 2 at right angles to the plane of the knuckle tail 5. This bar 11 rides upon the upper surface of the knuckle tail 5 when the same is swung outwardly about pivot 6 but drops into engagement with tip 7 and shoulder 8 when the knuckle is in an operative position and the knuckle tail swung inwardly as far as it 1926. Serial No. 125/138.

will go. A slot 1 is formed n coupler 1 shown to permit the ear 9 to pass therethrough whereby the knuckle may swing about its pivot as described.

A.- piston rod is shown at 13 slidably 430 mounted in the longitudinal axis of the coupler 1 and carrying a piston head 14: opcrating in a cylinder 15- provided with sources of air pressure at either end as indicated at 16 and 17 respectively. The for- 05 ward end of rod 13 projects into the chamber 2 and has slidable connection with slot 10 in knuckle tail by means of a button 18.

A shoulder 19 is forn'ied on the said rod a distance back from its forward end, i and shoulders 20 are formed on the sides of the said arm adjacent to'the'shoulder 19. 1 At 21 is shown a lever pivotally mounted in the chamber 2 at a point adjacent to one end. the said end having a notch 22 formed there in to engage the shoulder 19 in rod 13. The other end of the lever is provided with a pm 23 to engage an element 21 on bar 11 whereby to lift the same.

Assuming, now, that the device has been so constructed as described and operatively mounted upon a car body with the several parts in the positions shown in Figure 1. It being desired to release the knuckled air under pressure is admitted into cylinder 15 back of piston 14 thereby moving the rod 13 forwardly. The rod will move a short distance withoutimparting any movement to the j aw 1 because of the short straight por tion of the slot 10, but since it has immediate contact with the lever 21 the said lever is actuated about its pivot 21 Because of the angular formation of the lever and the disproportionate lengths of its two arms the bar 11 is instantly raised above the level of the knuckle tail 5. The continued forward movement of the rod causes the button 18 to slide along slot 10, therebv causing the knuckle 4 to swing into the position shown in Figure 4. y

In the rod 13 is formed a groove 24 having a leaf spring mounted therein with its free 1 end presented at the forward end of the. groove and flush with shoulder 19 so that the notch 22 in the lever 21 normally engages the said free end of the spring. hen the rod 13 has been moved forwardly a distance and the bar ll raised as described and the knuckle tail moved under the bar 11 the pivoting of the lever 21 will carry the end shoulder 8 when the knuckle reaches its final position. As the shoulder 19 draws past the notched end 22 of the lever 21 the said notched end of the lever rides over the spring 25 which immediately drops into place behind it. p

If it is desired to release the knuckle manually a fork 26 is pivotally mounted as at 27 by means of a rod 28, the spaced ends of the fork engaging the shoulders 20. By rotating the fork forwardly the releasing mechanism is operated.

It is obvious from the foregoing description that I have provided a device that may be quickly and positively operated either to open or close from a remote point such an engine cab, and one that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture,'and highly efficient in its practical application.

It is to he understood, of course, that while I have herein shown and described but one specific embodiment of my invention changes in form, construction and method of operation may be made within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim 2- A device of the character described comprising a coupler adapted to bemounted upon a car body, and having a chamber formed therein, a knuckle pivotally mounted thereon with one end movable into said chamber and having a bolt engaging means formed on its uppersurface and an angular slot in its lower surface, a gravity actuate-d bolt slidably mounted in the coupler and engage ahle with the said means, a rod having slidable engagement with said slot for advancing or retracting the same and actuating means forv said rod, and rod actuated means for lifting said bolt out of engagement with said knuckle.

JOHN WV. EASTER. 

